Dental hygiene device

ABSTRACT

A device for use in oral and dental hygiene, wherein a tooth engaging element in the form of a bristle brush, or rubber-like member, is mounted on a hand graspable holder and the holder is arranged to supply fluid under pressure to the tooth engaging element, either from a pressurized source or by means of a manually operable bulb in fluid communication with the tooth engaging element. The specification also discloses an arrangement whereby the tooth engaging element can be rotated if so desired.

O Umted States Patent 1151 3,675,645 Samiran et al. 14 1 July 11, 1972(s41 DENTAL HYGIENE DEVICE 69,110 9/1867 Manson ..128/232 [72]Inventors: my I 148 Northwest Road. 3,391,696 7/1968 Woodward......128/62 A Sunk. 991,022 5/1911 Rees et a1. ..128/232 M- moasj RM2,511,469 6/1950 Hawks ..12s/232 whim oaks fl 3.363.553 2/1968 Kirby..l28/62A Mass. 01106; Melvin G. Fitch, 29 Mary Lyon Drive, SouthHadley, Mass. 01075 man. w Trapp [22] Filed: May 25 1970 Atromey-Jeflersand RICkCH [21] App1.No.: 40,223 [57] ABSTRACT A device for use in oraland dental hygiene, wherein a tooth [52] [1.8. CI. ..l28/62 A, 128/65engaging element in the form of a bristle brush, or rubber-like [51]Int. Cl. ..A6lh 7/00 m m r. i m unte on a hand graspable holder and the58 Field 128/62 A, 66, 6s, 67. 232 holder is arranaed to pp y fluidunder Pressure to the tooth engaging element, either from a pressurizedsource or by [56] mcu means of a manually operable bulb in fluidcommunication with the tooth engaging element. The specification alsodis- UNITED STATES PATENTS closes an arrangement whereby the toothengaging element can be rotated ifso desired. 3,199,510 8/1965 S1na|..l28/62 A 886,984 5/1908 .lopling 2 Claim, 11 Drawing gum DENTALHYGIENE DEVICE The present invention relates to a dental or oral hygienedevice and especially to such a device for accomplishing a wide varietyof oral and dental hygienic operations and without the use of anexternal power source.

Dental and oral hygienic devices are known but, heretofore, have beenrelatively ineffective and limited in scope and, furthermore, when of aneffective nature for such purposes as cleaning between the teeth, haverequired an external source of power, or a supply of liquid underpressure, such as water taken from the water mains in an establishment.

Devices which require an external source of power, such as water underpressure, or a source of electricity, are thus useful only when suchsources are available and, accordingly, the area of usefulness of thedevices is severely limited.

It is also the case, as mentioned, that devices according to the priorart have tended to be more or less single purpose devices and have notmet the wide range of oral and dental hygienic needs it is desired tofill.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of the presentinvention to provide a device for dental and oral hygienic purposeswhich can accomplish a wide variety of operations, including thethorough cleaning of teeth and the space between the teeth and thesurfaces of the teeth beneath the edges of the gums which ordinarily arequite difficult to clean by any conventional method other than thoseemployed by dentists in their offices.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a device of thenature referred to which requires no external power source and is,therefore, readily portable and can be used anywhere.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a device ofthe nature referred to which is small enough to be carried about in thepocket or in a purse.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a device ofthe nature referred to which can contain liquid, but which is soconstructed that leakage of the liquid is prevented.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a device ofthe nature referred to that can clean the teeth beneath the gums at theedges and which will polish the teeth even down to the portion thereofunder the edges of the gums.

The foregoing objects, as well as still other objects and advantages ofthe present invention will become more apparent upon reference to thefollowing detailed specification taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a side view, partly in section, showing one form of the deviceaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a modification of the tooth engaging implement of FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view through still another implement inthe form of a bristle brush;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section like FIG. 3, but shows a rubberlikepolishing member for use with the device;

FIG. 5 is a view showing a pick form of implement;

FIG. 6 is a partial section through a device according to the presentinvention having a pressurized container connected thereto;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view showing a more or less conventional brushelement adapted for mounting on a pressurized container of the typeshown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal section through a modification of theinvention, including an arrangement for rotating the implement;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view indicated by line IX-IX on FIG. 8, showingthe mechanism for actuating the implement in rotation;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing how the device can be connected to asource of treatment liquid by a tube; and

FIG. II is a rather schematic perspective view showing, specifically,the manner in which the polishing member of FIG. 4 operates and alsobeing representative of the manner in which the rotary brush of FIG. 3operates.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a toothengaging and treating element mounted on a hand graspable handlearrange: ment, and which handle arrangement either includes a resilientbulb connected, via passage means, with passage means in the toothengaging element, or a pressurized container that is connected to thehandle with the discharge therefrom controlled by a valve. The toothengaging element can take any of several different forms and is arrangedto be driven in rotation according to one modification of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings somewhatmore in detail, in FIG. I, numeral 10 indicates a resilient container,preferably of transparent or translucent material so that the contentsthereof can be observed. Instructions for operation of the device can beprinted on the container.

The container is collapsible by squeezing with the hand and one side ofthe container is preferably substantially stiffer than the other sidethereof so that the container, while being resilient and collapsible,still forms a firm support for the device. In one end of the containeris a check valve assembly opening into the container and indicated byreference numeral 12. The check valve includes the spring biased valvemember 14 and is adapted for being closed by running screw 16 inwardly.Running screw 16 out to the position in which it is illustrated will, ofcourse, permit check valve I2 to function to admit air, or fluid, intothe right end of container it), while preventing any movement of air orfluid out of container If) at the right end. When screw 16 is screweddown the check valve is held closed and the right end of container 10 issealed against leakage.

At the left end of container 10 is a spring biased check valve 18 whichpermits air or fluid to flow from the container 10 into chamber 20, butprevents flow in the opposite direction. Container 10 communicates viapassage 22 in member 24 with a further passage 26 in a flexible orjointed support member 28. Member 24 is threaded at 30 to a member 32that is mounted on the left end of container 10 permanently assembledtherewith. Similarly, member 28 has a threaded connection at 34 with theother end of member 24.

At its outer end flexible or jointed support member 28 terminates in ahead 36 which is generally tubular in nature and threadedly receives theshank 38 of a tooth engaging and treating implement 40. Aforementionedpassage 26 communicates at its left end with the interior of tubularhead 36 and from there with passage 42 leading downwardly into implement40 and terminating an angularly directed outlet ports or nozzles 44.

The communication of passage 26 with passage 42 is under the control ofknurled screw 46 which, when screwed down into its lower position,closes off the upper end of passage 42. Rotatably mounted on theelongated reduced diameter part of member 24 is a spool 48 adapted forcarrying dental floss 50. The end of the dental floss is fed out slot 52in a cylindrical covering sleeve 54 and which sleeve may also have a tab56 under which the dental floss can be locked and which can be employedfor breaking off the dental floss. Sleeve 54 had one end threaded to theoutside of member 24 and 58 and extends axially over spool 48 and, atits other end, abuts member 32.

In operation, the resilient rubber-like implement 40 can be used tomassage the teeth and gums and the pointed end thereof can enter thespaces between the teeth and dislodge particles therefrom, while fluidcan be supplied to the region being treated by the implement bymanipulation of container 10. The treatment fluid can be a cleaningagent if so desired and may, furthermore, contain a treatment agent suchas a fluoride, if so desired.

FIG. 2 shows an implement 60 of about the same shape as implement 40 inFIG. 1, but having the radial and axial ribs 62 distributedcircumferentially thereof; The implement of FIG. 2 is adapted forpolishing the teeth, as well as penetrating spaces between the teeth todislodge particles therefrom. As in connection with the implement 40 ofFIG. 1, discharge ports 64 are provided in the implement of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 shows an implement comprising a body 66 having mounted thereinthe multiple rows of bristles at 68, which may be held inside flange 70of the body of the implement by the pressed in metal rings 72. The axialpassage 74 in the implement has at least one cross drill 76 incommunication therewith and opening to the inside of the bristlearrangement.

In FIG. 4, the implement shown comprises the shank portion 78 having afluid supply passage 80 extending therealong while connected to theshank portion is the double-skirted rubber-like member 82, which isprovided with axial incisions 84 and small notches 86 on the end. Theimplement of FIG. 4, as well as that of FIG. 3, can spread outsubstantially flat against the two surfaces and engage the teeth underthe edges of the gums and thereby carry out highly efficient cleaningand polishing operations.

FIG. 5 shows a tubular element 88, which can serve as a pick because thepointed small end can be inserted in the space between the teeth andthen fluid under relatively high pressure jetted from the pointed outerend of the pick in order to dislodge food particles and the like frombetween the teeth.

F IG. 6 shows a pressurized container 90 which may contain a liquid anda pressurizing gas, such as freon, or the like. Con tainer 90 has athreaded neck 92, normally closed by a check valve ball 94. The neck isadapted for threadedly receiving a block 96 which is threaded at 98 forreceiving the threaded end of a member 100, the opposite end of which isenlarged at 102 and threaded internally at 104 and externally at 106.Member 100 has an axial passage I08 extending therethrough andterminating in lateral ports 110 inside the rubber-like seal sleeve 112,which is mounted in block 96. The extreme end of member 100 is in theform of a pointed cone shape portion 114 so that when member 100 isscrewed in place in block 96 it will push ball 94 off its seat.

Member I may, as in the connection of the modification of FIG. 1,rotatably carry a spool 116 on which dental floss is mounted and thedevice may comprise an outer sleeve I18 threadedly mounted on threadsI06 and extending axially along the spool and abutting block 96. Thissleeve is slotted to permit the floss to be drawn off the spool 116.

A connector member 120, preferably either flexible or jointed, has athreaded end engaging threads 104, while the other end has a cylindricalhead 122 having a valve member I24 threaded therein and adapted at theend opposite valve member 124 detachably to support an implement 126.

FIG. 7 shows an arrangement similarly to that of FIG. 6, except that thebrush element 130 in FIG. 7 is substantially conventional except for thepassage means 132 that communicate with spaces between bristles 134 atone end while, at the other end, passage I32 is under the control ofavalve member 136. The passage, beyond valve member 136, leads to apressurized container such as is shown at 90 in FlG. 6.

In the modification of FIGS. 8 and 9, the manually collapsible bulb 150is connected by connecting arrangement 152, which is substantially thesame as those previously described, with a tubular support member 154having a box-like head 156 mounted on the free outer end thereof.

in head 156 are the meshing bevel gears l58, one of which is mounted ona shaft 160 rotatable in tubular member 154 and extending completelyinto the interior of bulb 150. The other of the bevel gears 158 ismounted on a shaft 162 which can carry an implement. If a passage isprovided from bulb 150 into head 156 and shaft 162 is hollow, a valvemember 164 can be provided in the head for selectively opening andclosing the passage in shaft 162.

lnside bulb I50, shaft 160 carries a cylindrical element 166 andengaging opposite sides thereof are the two drive members 168. Thesedrive members extend diametrally of the bulb and terminate in actuatingpads 170, which can be availed of for moving actuating elements 168toward and away from each other, thereby reversibly to rotatecylindrical element 166 and, therefore. shalt 160, bevel gears 168,shaft 162 and a implement mounted thereon. The actuating elements 168may engage cylindrical element 166 merely by friction, or they may be inthe form of racks and the element 166 toothed for positive rotationthereof by reciprocation of the said racks.

The present invention contemplates connecting a manually operable bulbof the device with a source of treatment liquid as is shownschematically in FIG. 10. ln FlG. l0, numeral I80 represents a containerof treatment liquid, such as a fluoride containing liquid and thiscontainer is connected by a flexible tube 182 and an inlet check valveI84 with a manually operable bulb 186 which is adapted to dischargethrough an exit check valve I88 to the implement I90. In thisarrangement, the bulb operates as a pump to transfer treatment liquidI80 to the implement and to cause the liquid to emerge from theimplement under pressure.

it is possible for container in FIG. 10 to be provided with a motordriven pump, if desired, to supply the treatment liquid therefrom to thetooth engaging implement and, in which case, the hand squeezable bulb isnot needed. Rather, the hand graspable portion of the device wouldinclude a valve controlling the flow of the treatment liquid to thetooth engaging implement.

FIG. 11 illustrates the polishing member of FIG. 4 in operation. In thisfigure the polishing member is presented endwise to a tooth 200 and willspread out so that the blades 202 of the polishing member will bearagainst the tooth surface. When the polishing member rotates, the tipsof the blades can run under the edge of the gum 204 and effect polishingoperations in that difficult to reach region.

FIG. 11 is also indicative of the manner in which the brush of FIG. 3will operate to get beneath the edges of the gums and carry out cleaningand polishing operations.

Modifications may be made within the scope of appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A dental or oral hygiene device comprising:

a. a tubular shaped head member adapted to carry a tooth treatingelement having a central passage terminating on the surface of saidelement,

b. said head member having a first manually operated valve means forcontrolling the flow of liquid through the central passage,

c. a hand graspable support having a central passage therethrough,

d. an elongated hollow flexible member connecting the head member tosaid hand graspable support and providing communication between thecentral passage of said hand graspable member and said tubular headmember, said flexible member adapted for angular adjustment of saidtooth treating element,

. a hollow resilient bulb having one side substantially stiffer than theother side connected to said hand graspable sup- P said resilient bulbprovided with a one way check valve means at one end to permit liquid toflow into the central passage of said hand graspable support from saidresilient bulb while preventing flow in the opposite direction,

. a second manually operated valve means disposed at the other end ofsaid bulb to admit air to said bulb while preventing movement of air outof said bulb, and

h. means for locking said second valve means in a closed position.

2. A hygiene device according to claim I in which the hand graspablesupport includes a hollow tubular portion having an opening adjacent oneend.

* 8 III

1. A dental or oral hygiene device comprising: a. a tubular shaped headmember adapted to carry a tooth treating element having a centralpassage terminating on the surface of said element, b. said head memberhaving a first manually operated valve means for controlling the flow ofliquid through the central passage, c. a hand graspable support having acentral passage therethrough, d. an elongated hollow flexible memberconnecting the head member to said hand graspable support and proviDingcommunication between the central passage of said hand graspable memberand said tubular head member, said flexible member adapted for angularadjustment of said tooth treating element, e. a hollow resilient bulbhaving one side substantially stiffer than the other side connected tosaid hand graspable support, f. said resilient bulb provided with a oneway check valve means at one end to permit liquid to flow into thecentral passage of said hand graspable support from said resilient bulbwhile preventing flow in the opposite direction, g. a second manuallyoperated valve means disposed at the other end of said bulb to admit airto said bulb while preventing movement of air out of said bulb, and h.means for locking said second valve means in a closed position.
 2. Ahygiene device according to claim 1 in which the hand graspable supportincludes a hollow tubular portion having an opening adjacent one end.